Annette Gordon Reed: Thomas Jefferson's African American Children

Go to http://www.wbgo.org/news/ondemand/wolperArchives.php for the full interview

Pulitzer Prize winner Annette Gordon-Reed is an authority on the intimate relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, a slave on his Virginia plantation. The relationship produced seven children. Gordon-Reed also knows first hand about the later day struggles of black women in America. She has recently won a Pulitzer for her book.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Annette
• Gordon
• Reed
• Conversations
• with
• Allan
• Wolper
• WBGO
• Jazz88
• 88.3
• Newark
• Thomas
• Jefferson
• Sally
• Hemings
• Hemmings
• slave
• Monticello
• the
• hemingses
• of
• monticello
• pulitzer
• prize
• winner

[jukio02]

thomas jefferson was a walking contradiction

[MyMadra]

@Shelton1967 yes but it's present only in the youngest child because it was a dierct paternal line...for instance assuming you're a male if you have a daughter and she has a son etc 200 years down the line there will be no DNA evidence suggesting you're the ancestor of your descendants because the only thing that can verify that is if you have the identical Y chromosome of jefferson (which still isn't COMPLETE proof but it proves you're related)..the evidence suggests they're his though

[bkl139]

Bangin chicks and leading the free world...Just like Clinton.

[rochelle1088]

I corresponded with TJHS. A lot of misinfo around on this topic.

The family organization refuses to acknowledge the Hemmings. In 2002 the Hemmings lost a lawsuit to be buried at Monticello.

The DNA only proves that the Hemmings were the offspring of one of the Jefferson men.

It is most likely that Randolph(Randall) was the father.

A Jefferson slave wrote:

"old master’s brother Mass Randall,was a mighty simple man—used to come out among the slaves, play the fiddle and dance half the night"

[MyMadra]

@TsalagiAgvnage Not sure where you got your education, but if you listened in biology class you'd know that the Y chromosome is very small, WAY smaller than the rest of your chromosomes, and it's passed down identically from father to son. Your Y chromosome is identical to your fathers

[TsalagiAgvnage]

@MyMadra that is crazy a bit. there is never an identical chromosome you inherit some things from each of your grandparents it is not simple as one chromosome passing from generation to generation

[mnlkthms]

@jukio02 him and the rest of the"founding" fathers were walking contradictions

[bryansipho]

Thomas was the only Jefferson (among the potential fathers) who was at Monticello at the time of conception of all of Sally's children. In other words, Sally never conceived a child when Thomas wasn't at Monticello. HE'S THE FATHER!

[Shelton1967]

The DNa test was performed a sescendant of only one of Sally's 6 children. The test showed that there was JEfferson DNA present. Could be Thomas or more likely his brother who spent time at the sl;ave quarters at Montecello, making music with the slaves there. Sally Hemmings and her children all held "better" positions in the house, rather than in the field. Sally was a half sister to Jefferson's deceased wife - and Sally was described as "damned near white" by a first hand account.

[Shelton1967]

The DNA Test referred to here, tested descendendts of only one of Sally H's children. The test sxhowed that there was Jefferson DNA present. Maybe Thomas, but more likely his brother who enjoyed hanging out at the slave quarters, making music with the slaves, etc.